Governor for steam-engines



J. T.OASE. GOVERNOR FOR STEAM ENGINES.

(No Model.)

Patented Sefit. 30, 1890.

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{vi w M UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

JOEL T'. CASE, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.

GOVERNOR FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,641, dated September 30, 1890. Application filed February 19, 1890-' Serial No. 341,084. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOEL T. CASE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut,'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Governors for Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in governors for steam-engines; and the objects of my improvement are simplicity and economy in construction and general efiiciency in user In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my governor. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line as x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the nut at the upper end of the valve-spindle. Fig. 4 is a reverse plan view of the nut at the middle of the valve-spindle. Fig. 5 is a reverse plan view of the cap to which the weighted arms are attached, together with the spring and one of said arms. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the valve on line y y of Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is a detached side elevation of the cap, spring, and weighted arms.

A designates the valve-case, having an inlet 8, by which to connect the live-steam pipe, and an outlet 9 in its base 10, through which the steam passes to the engine, said base 10 being adapted to be secured directly to the steam-chest of the engine or to-a suitable connection leading thereto. The valve-case A has an inner compartment 11, the top and bottom Walls of which are perforated to receive the valve 12, said valve being cylindrical in its general form and composed of two disks which fit the openings in the top and bottom of the inner chamber 11 and side bars to connect said disks and extend somewhat below the lower disk to serve as guides. The valve is connected to the valve-spindle 13, so as to rise and fall therewith. The openings in the top and bottom of the inner compartment 11 open into the outer chamber 14 of the valvecase, the top and bottom portions of said outer chamber being connected by the side passage 15. This valve-case and valve are of an ordinary construction; but I describe them in order to show their connection with my governor.

In the upper part of the valve-caselsecure a standard 16, preferably in the form of an open frame at its middle portion, and provided at its lower end with an ordinary stufliing-box 17 for packing the valve-spindle 13 at the top of the valve-case A. The upper end of said standard is provided with acylindrical portion 18, which serves as the axle upon which the governor revolves. The main portion of said governor-case B is in the form of a short hollow cylinder provided with a central inner hub 19, fitted to the axle 18, and an outer hub 20 at its lower end, which serves as a pulley to receive the belt that drives the governor. The axle 18 is made hollow, and the valve-spindle extends through it and through the nut 21 at the upper end of the axle, which nut serves to hold the governor in 7 place thereon. At the upper part of the gov ernor is the case-cap C, which I secure in place by means of screws passing through holes in the edge of the cap (see Fig. 5) and into the body of the governor-case B. This cap is provided on its under side with lugs 22, to which I secure a pair of weighted arms 23. Aspring 25 extends diametrically across the governor with its outer ends resting upon the upper ends of the weighted arms 23 at points between the lugs on each side. Each weighted arm is connected with the middle portion of said spring by means of a link 26, the upper end of each link passing through a hole in the spring 25, where it is secured from pullingv down through the hole by means of the crosspin 27. The lower end of each link is secured to the weighted arm by means of a screw or bolt 28. The upper end of the valve-spindle extends through the middle of said spring 25, and is secured to said spring by means of a fixed washer or'collar 29 on the lower side and suitable nuts 30 on the upper side, with as many intermediate washers as may be desired.

The governorthus far described is a complete and operative one; but for the purpose of making the spring-tension on the valvespindle adjustable I thread the lower end of the axle 18, place a fixed collar 31 on said spindle within said axle, a spiralspring 32 underneath said collar, and a nut 33 at the lower end of said spring, said nut being provided with means for the application of a wrenchas, for instance, two holesso that a properly-formed wrench may be inserted in one of the openings of the standard 16- and the nut screwed up or down to vary the tension of the spring 32.

My governor is illustrated in the drawings as being run at such ahigh speed-that the weighted arms are thrown outward to their greatest limit, whereby the valve-spindle is .lifted, so as to close the valve 12 and hold it closed until the speed of the governor slackens and allows the weights to be drawn inwardly under the force of the spring or springs. It will be seen that as the weights move inwardly the middle portion of the spring will rise, thereby lifting the valve-spindle and opening the valve, and thus the valve will be opened or closed, according to the speed at which the governor is run. By adjusting the nut 33 the spring-tension on the valve-spindle may be increased, whereby a higher speed of the governor will be required in order to counteract the tension of the springs and close the valve, and vice versa It will be noticed that the governor forms a closed receptacle or chamber, whereby it may be kept filled or partly filled with oil, it desired. The central screw-plug 34 furnishes a convenient means for filling.

I am aware that it is not broadly new t-oinclose the valve-controlling mechanism in a revolving case, or to hang said case on a hollow axle, or to hang the weighted arms to the cap of saidv case, or to provide an adjustable spring-tension to vary the speed required to .upper ends of said links 26, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the governor-case,.a standard, the valve-spindle 13, the valve 12 at the lower end of said spindle, the valvecontrolling mechanism at the upper end of said spindle, the hollow axle 18, threaded internally at its lower end, the nut 33,- sur-. rounding the valve-spindle and interiorly threaded to fit said axle, the collar 31, fixed to said spindle, and the spring 32, with its ends resting, respectively, on said nut and collar, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified. Y

- JOEL T. CASEL/ lVitnesses:

. JAMES SHEPARD,

JOHN EDWARDS, Jr. 

